Dashboard Support

ABSTRACT

A dashboard support for a motor vehicle to be installed between and connected to two pillars located on opposite vehicle sides. The dashboard support has a support structure provided by a hollow profile, which support structure has at least one support portion having a curvature. A planar reinforcement part spanning this curved support portion on the inside of the curvature is arranged on the outside of the support structure. The planar extension of the reinforcement part faces toward the curvature and the ends of the reinforcement part facing in the spanning direction are connected to the outer surface of the support structure.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to a dashboard support for a motorvehicle, to be installed between and connected to two pillars located onopposite vehicle sides, having a support structure provided by a hollowprofile, which support structure has at least one support portion havinga curvature.

Dashboard supports are used to attach instruments and the steeringconnection in a motor vehicle. Dashboard supports are installed betweentwo pillars, typically the A-pillars, of a motor vehicle. To connectsuch a dashboard support, it is provided with corresponding mechanicalconnection elements at its distal ends. A dashboard support may also bereferred to as a dashboard carrier or an instrument panel support orcarrier.

A key component of such a dashboard support is a support structure. Thesupport structure extends between the pillars. Connections forinstruments and for further fixing points relative to the vehicle can beprovided on the support structure, for example floor supports by whichthe support structure is supported by the floor of the vehicle,typically in the region of its tunnel. In many cases, the supportstructure has curvatures in order to provide a necessary offset of partsof the support structure transverse to the longitudinal extension of thesupport structure. As a result, the central portion of the transversesupport structure is U-shaped, with the two legs of this shape typicallybeing inclined toward one another in a V-shape. Such a shape isrequired, for example, in a central portion of the support structure inorder to provide installation space for certain units, such as the airconditioning system. Such a dashboard support is known from FIG. 1 of DE10 2006 044 699 A1.

Another dashboard support is known from DE 10 2013 102 292 A1. Thisdashboard support uses an extruded holding profile made of a light metalalloy, with which a support portion is gripped. The extruded holdingprofile is used to provide a connection point for attaching accessories.

Dashboard supports are also known from DE 100 23 506 A1 and DE 10 2016207 765 A1. The support structure of these previously known dashboardsupports has a straight configuration.

Vibrations or impacts introduced into the dashboard support duringdriving are problematic, in particular via the steering connection orvia the connection to the pillars of the vehicle. These vibrations andimpacts can affect the stability of a dashboard support as well asexcite the dashboard support itself to vibrate. However, this isundesirable. In order to keep the vibrations of the dashboard supportlow, it is known from the prior art to provide the support structurewith increased material thicknesses or to fix it at additional points onthe motor vehicle. The connection is thus stiffened, so that the supportstructure can be supported on the motor vehicle structure. In thesepreviously known solutions, however, the additional weight due to theincreased material thicknesses or the additional connections and theresulting reduced installation space for instruments or units isperceived as disadvantageous.

SUMMARY

Proceeding from this background, an aspect of the present disclosure isto develop a dashboard support of the type mentioned at the outset, sothat it is less sensitive to vibrations and impacts, and wherein itshould have the smallest possible installation space and the lowestpossible weight.

This is achieved by a dashboard support of the type mentioned at theoutset, in which a planar reinforcement part spanning the curved supportportion on the inside of the curvature is arranged on the outside of thesupport structure, in the manner of a chord, over the curved supportportion, wherein the planar extension of the reinforcement part pointstoward the curvature and the ends of the reinforcement part pointing inthe spanning direction are connected to the outer surface of the supportstructure. Advantageous aspects and embodiments will be apparent fromthe description and claims.

The support structure is reinforced in the region of its curved supportportion by a reinforcement part. The reinforcement part spans thecurvature of the curved support portion and is connected to the outersurface of the support structure on the outside with its ends pointingin the spanning direction. The reinforcement part is thus connected tothe support structure on the side compressed by the curvature. When acompressed or stretched side is mentioned in these explanations, thisdoes not necessarily mean that the support structure has to becompressed and/or stretched by deformation in order to form the at leastone curved portion. However, this will be usually the case when thesupport structure is brought into shape by forming. It is also possiblethat the curved portion support portion is cast, for example. It is alsopossible to design the support structure as a shell component, composedof two or more shells. When assembled, these then form the hollowprofile of the support structure. The reinforcement part is arrangedopposite the curved support portion in the manner of a chord and thus atleast partially spans the curved support portion.

The reinforcement part is a planar element, for example a metal sheet.The planar extension thereof points toward the inside of the curvatureof the curved support portion. The longitudinal extent of thereinforcement part, which is designed as sheet metal, thus follows thespanning direction of the curved support portion.

The ends of the reinforcement part pointing in the spanning directionare connected to the outer surface of the support structure. Accordingto a preferred example embodiment, this is provided by means of amaterial connection, typically by means of a welded connection. Thereinforcement part increases the effective diameter in the region of thecurvature. The effective diameter is the maximum distance between twoconnected surfaces, whereby a section modulus is provided by theconnection or support of the surfaces against one another. This is allthe greater, the greater the distance between the surfaces, andtherefore the effective diameter. The effective diameter, which isincreased compared to the diameter of the curved support portion,therefore effectively prevents vibration amplification by the curvedsupport portion. By arranging the reinforcement part on the inside ofthe curve and by spanning the curved support part, the effectivediameter in the region spanned by the reinforcement part extends fromthis region to the outer surface portion of the curved support portionopposite the reinforcement part. This provides greater mechanicalleverage against a vibration or shock in the curvature. In addition, dueto its planar extension in the direction of the center line ofcurvature, the reinforcement part provides an additional section modulusagainst forces that act in this direction. The reinforcement part thusacts as a parallel belt that stabilizes the curved inner side of thecurved support portion. This interaction significantly improves thestiffness of the curved support portion and thus of the supportstructure, both in relation to a movement that bends the curvature byopening or closing the same and in relation to a movement that twiststhe curved support portion. The support structure is inherentlystiffened in the region in which the reinforcement part is arranged, sothat an independent oscillation of the support structure iscounteracted, specifically without the need for additional supports onthe vehicle side.

In a preferred embodiment, the reinforcement part additionally has atleast one connection portion with which it is connected to the neutralline of the curved support portion, typically in a materially bondedmanner by welding. The neutral line of the curved support portion is theline or plane that represents the transition from the inside of thecurve to the outside of the curve, and consequently in which thematerial is neither compressed nor stretched. An additionalreinforcement is also provided by such a connection portion, since thereinforcement part is additionally supported along its longitudinalextent on the curved support portion. The connection portion istypically provided by a leg that is bent from the planar extension ofthe reinforcement part. A further improvement can be achieved if thereinforcement part has two connection portions, so that thereinforcement part then has a U-shaped cross-sectional geometry. The twoconnection portions are connected to the neutral line of the curvedportion with their end pointing away from the planar region of thereinforcement part.

A further development provides that the connection portion extends overthe entire curved portion along the neutral line. As a result, theplanar reinforcement part can be supported not only in relation to thecurved support portion, but the reinforcement part is additionallyreinforced in the direction of the radius of curvature by the connectionportion that is flared out in relation to the planar extension. In thisway, the reinforcement part needs to be connected to the curved supportportion with its at least one connection part along the neutral lineonly at individual points, for example in the form of a stitched or stepweld seam.

In one embodiment, the reinforcement part has an elongate embossing,typically in the manner of a bead, which rises from the planarextension. The longitudinal direction of this embossing is in thespanning direction. By introducing an embossing, the reinforcement partis stiffened in the direction of the radius of curvature, so thatbuckling or bulging of the reinforcement part is effectively prevented.

The support structure is provided by a hollow profile. This can be amulti-shell profile with a round or angular cross-sectional geometry. Inone configuration, at least the curved support portion is a tube,typically a round tube, namely a tube with a curved outer surface, inorder to simplify processing, in particular for forming the curvature.This can be circular or oval. For weight and manufacturing reasons, apreferred embodiment provides for the entire support structure to beprovided by a tube.

If the curved support portion is tubular, the reinforcement part has atleast one connection recess pointing towards the tube for connecting itto the outer surface of the support structure, which is adapted in termsof its outline geometry to the geometry of the outer surface of thetube. The width of the reinforcement part on its narrow side preferablycorresponds to the diameter of the curved support portion. It is alsoquite possible that the extension of the narrow side of thereinforcement part is somewhat smaller or also larger than the diameterof the curved support portion. If the height of the reinforcement part,namely its extension in the direction of the narrow side, corresponds tothe diameter of the curved support portion, the connection recesses aredesigned in such a way that they are connected to those of the supportstructure over half the circumference.

In a further embodiment it is provided that at least parts of the endportions of the reinforcement part connected to the outer surface of thesupport structure are arranged on the support structure outside of thesupport portion. As a result of this measure, the spanning distance isincreased, and the curved support portion as a whole is thereforespanned by the reinforcement part. If the support structure is a roundtube, the crests of the end recesses of the reinforcement part arelocated at the boundary in the transition from the straight supportportion adjacent to the curved support portion to the curved supportportion or are only a short distance away from this portion, outside ofthe curved support portion. The stiffening effected in this way turnsout to be sufficient. A greater distance in the region of the center ofthe reinforcement part relative to the neutral lines of the curvedsupport portion is possible, but requires more installation spacewithout any improvement in terms of vibration prevention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present disclosure is described below on the basis of exampleembodiments with reference to the figures, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a dashboard support with a reinforcement part according toa first embodiment,

FIG. 2 shows the reinforcement part of FIG. 1 in a front view,

FIG. 3 shows a cross section through the dashboard support of FIG. 1taken along the line A-A of FIG. 1 , and

FIG. 4 shows a dashboard support with a reinforcement part according toa second embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows a dashboard support 1 for a motor vehicle. It is intendedthat the dashboard support is connected to the A-pillars of a motorvehicle between two opposite sides of the vehicle by means of connectionelements 2, 3. The dashboard support 1 has a support structure 4. Thesupport structure 4 is a hollow profile. In the illustrated embodiment,the support structure 4 is a round tube. In addition to the twoconnection elements 2, 3 connected at the ends to the support structure4, the support structure 4 carries floor supports 5, 6, with which thesupport structure 4 is connected in its central portion to a floor of amotor vehicle, not shown in detail.

The support structure 4 has a curvature in a curved support portion 7.The support portion 7 together with other curved and straight supportportions (not designated in more detail) forms a U-shape located in thecentral region of the support structure. In the illustrated embodiment,the dashboard support 1 is provided for a left-hand drive motor vehicle.A steering column, not shown in detail, is connected to the dashboardsupport 1 or its support structure 4 between the connection element 2and the curved portion 7.

On the outside of the support structure 4 there is a reinforcement part8 spanning the curved support portion 7 on the inside. The reinforcementpart 8 is arranged opposite the curved support portion 7 on the insideof the curvature in the manner of a chord. The reinforcement part 8 isconnected to the curved outer surface of the support structure 4 withits ends 9, 10 pointing in the spanning direction. For this purpose, thereinforcement part 8 has connection recesses 11, 12, which can be seenin FIG. 2 . These are adapted to the cross-sectional geometry of theround tube forming the support structure 4 and thus also to itsdiameter. They are materially connected along their contact surface tothe outer surface of the support structure 4 designed as a round tube.

The reinforcement part 8 also has connection portions, with only theupper connection portion 13 being visible in FIG. 1 . The secondconnection portion 14 can be seen in the sectional view of FIG. 3 . Fromthe sectional representation of FIG. 3 , it can also be seen that theconnection portions 13, 14 reach up to the neutral line 15 (wherein thelongitudinal plane through the curved support portion is at right anglesto the direction of curvature). In the region of the neutral line 15,the ends of the connection portions 13, 14 are materially connected tothe curved support portion by welding. With regard to the connection ofthe connection portions 13, 14 to the curved support portion, theneutral line 15 is the upper or lower vertex of the round tube shown inFIG. 3 and represents the transition from the inside of the curve (wherethe reinforcement part 8 is located) to the outside of the curve. Anintermittent or interrupted weld seam, also known as a stitched or stepweld seam, is sufficient for connecting the support portions 13, 14 tothe support portion 7.

The reinforcement part 8 also has a bead-like embossing 16. This risesfrom the planar extent of the reinforcement part 8, in this casepointing away from the curved support portion 7, and points with itslongitudinal direction in the spanning direction (see also FIGS. 1 and 2).

As can be seen in FIG. 3 , the reinforcement part 8 increases theeffective diameter 17 in the direction of curvature of the curvedsupport part 7 compared to the actual diameter 18 of the support portion7. As a result, the section modulus of the tube cross section issignificantly increased, which effectively prevents an opening orclosing bending movement of the curvature caused by the forces inquestion. In addition, due to the planar extension of the reinforcementpart 8 in the direction of the center line of curvature, the sectionmodulus is also increased in this direction. It is clear from thesectional view in FIG. 3 that the reinforcement part 8 has a height oran extent in the direction of its narrow sides that corresponds to thediameter 18 of the support portion 7. By increasing the section modulusin this arrangement, vibration is prevented; the provided supportstructure 4 is thus effectively stiffened.

FIG. 4 shows a detail of another dashboard support 1, which in principlecorresponds to the dashboard support 1 of the preceding figures. In thedetail shown in FIG. 4 , the curved support portion 7.1 is spanned byanother reinforcement part 8.1 and is thus stiffened. In contrast to thereinforcement part 8, the reinforcement part 8.1 does not haveconnection portions. It can be clearly seen in this figure that thereinforcement part 8.1 spans the curved support portion 7.1 on theinside of the curvature. It is connected with its ends 9.1, 10.1pointing in the spanning direction before the beginning of the curvedsupport portion 7.1 to the outer surface of the support structure 4.1,also with a material connection. The welding seam is not shown in thisfigure. The above-mentioned advantages with regard to the increase inthe section modulus are also achieved by this configuration. If theextension in the spanning direction is sufficiently short, the embossing16.1, which is identical to the previously described, can be sufficientto stiffen the reinforcement part in order to sufficiently increase thesection modulus also transversely to the planar extension of thereinforcement part 8.1.

The invention has been described on the basis of example embodiments.Without departing from the scope of protection described by the claims,numerous further ways and embodiments for implementing the subjectmatter of the invention are apparent to a person skilled in the art,without these having to be explained or shown in more detail within thecontext of this disclosure.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

-   -   1 dashboard support    -   2, 3 connection element    -   4, 4.1 support structure    -   5, 6 floor supports    -   7, 7.1 curved support portion    -   8, 8.1 reinforcement part    -   9, 9.1, 10, 10.1 ends of the reinforcement part    -   11, 12 connection recess    -   13, 14 connection portion    -   15 neutral line    -   16, 16.1 embossing    -   17 effective diameter    -   18 diameter

1-12. (canceled)
 13. A dashboard support for a motor vehicle, configuredto be installed between and connected to two pillars located on oppositevehicle sides, comprising: a support structure provided by a hollowprofile, wherein the support structure has at least one curved supportportion with a curvature, and one end of the curved support portion isoffset transversely to a longitudinal extent of the support structurerelative to the other end of the curved support portion, such that anoffset of portions of the support structure transversely to thelongitudinal extent of the support structure is provided, and areinforcement part arranged on the support structure, wherein thereinforcement part spans the curved support portion on the inside of thecurvature in the manner of a chord, a planar extension of thereinforcement part faces toward the curvature, and ends of thereinforcement part facing in the spanning direction are connected to theouter surface of the support structure.
 14. The dashboard support ofclaim 13, wherein at least the curved support portion of the supportstructure is a tube.
 15. The dashboard support of claim 14, wherein thetube is a round tube.
 16. The dashboard support of claim 14, wherein thereinforcement part has at least one connecting recess facing towards thetube with a shape adapted to a geometry of the outer surface of thetube.
 17. The dashboard support of claim 16, wherein the shape of theconnecting recess is complementary to the geometry of the outer surfaceof the tube.
 18. The dashboard support of claim 13, wherein at leastparts of the ends of the reinforcement part connected to the outersurface of the support structure are arranged outside the curved supportportion along the support structure.
 19. The dashboard support of claim13, wherein the reinforcement part additionally has at least oneconnection portion with which the planar extension of the reinforcementpart is connected to at least one neutral line of the curved supportportion.
 20. The dashboard support of claim 19, wherein the at least oneconnection portion extends along the neutral line over the entire curvedsupport portion.
 21. The dashboard support of claim 13, wherein thereinforcement part is materially connected to the support structure. 22.The dashboard support of claim 13, wherein the reinforcement part has anelongate embossing which rises from the planar extension of thereinforcement part, and a longitudinal direction of the elongateembossing points in the spanning direction of the reinforcement part.23. The dashboard support of claim 22, wherein the elongate embossingpoints away from the curved support portion with regard to an embossingdirection of the elongate embossing.
 24. The dashboard support of claim13, wherein the entire support structure is a round tube.
 25. Thedashboard support of claim 13, wherein connecting elements forconnecting the dashboard support to A-pillars of a vehicle are connectedto respective ends of the support structure.
 26. The dashboard supportof claim 13, wherein the dashboard support is only provided with thereinforcement part spanning the curved support portion on a side of thesupport structure to which a steering column is connected.